Mar 13, 2012

Nailbiter (2012)



Not to be confused with the 1999 U.K. short film of the same name, Nailbiter (2012) comes from Patrick Rea, who has done a whole slew of shorts over the years, most making their festival rounds and a few were released on Fangoria’s Blood Drive and Hollywood Scarefest DVDs.

I first heard about this movie as a follower of the blog and Facebook page, Freddy In Space. It looked interesting, so I tracked down Mr. Rea and asked for a screener copy. I always love being one of the first to watch new indie movies, especially before they get distribution, and also help spread the word to support fellow low budget filmmakers.

The first 20 minutes will have you thinking it's just another Twister ripoff, but once the storm subsides, it becomes apparent it’s more in the vain of a Stephen King movie or After Dark Horrorfest's The Hamiltons.

In order to dodge a tornado while on their way to pick up daddy dearest at the airport, the Maguire Clan seek refuge in a nearby home's cellar. Once the storm has blown over, they try to exit, but debris has blocked the doors. So, little Sally tries to exit through a window, but gets bitten by something, so quickly retreats. Since cell phone reception is for shit and the people upstairs won't help, they place their hope in a moonshine still and a high-powered nail gun, which are found in the basement. I’m sure you’re thinking, either some MacGyver shit is about to take place, or drunken carpentry, but as things keep lurking and the body count rises, survival mode kicks in and the goal of getting the hell out of Dodge, or Wellsville in this case, becomes the dominant thought.

I could continue to throw out spoilers, but fear I may have already given too much, as this film deserves to be experienced, rather than just told, and alcohol-induced viewing will only enhance it. I'm not sure if a sequel is intended, but there's plenty of room left for one to follow.

Several people were cast very well. I really liked the grandma character, played by Joicie Appell, who proves you can't always trust little old ladies.
I also feel that Emily Boresow (Alice) has a bright future in acting, and her likeness to Emma Watson doesn't hurt either.

And, given a few more roles to hone her talent, badass Meg Saricks, who plays Jennifer, could be on her way to B-movie hottie/scream queen stardom.

The Blu Ray picture quality looked great, with vivid colors throughout the outdoor scenes and the darks were dark. The audio, however, definitely wasn't geared toward my TV's factory speakers, because I had to really crank it up in order to hear all the dialog.

I do have a few more gripes though. I felt that the portrayal of four chicks in distress was a bit off. Maybe this intended to be a girl power movie, but even with the hard exteriors that Jennifer and her mom held, as their kin started dying off, I’d think there would be much more hysteria. Hell, I might even scream like a little bitch in the same situation. Also, the creatures fell short. I heavily applaud the use of practical effects, and I’m not sure what I was expecting or hoping, but when the monsters were revealed, I was like, That's it? I was going to add a picture, but feel it's only fair that you make your own determination. So, seek out this film and let me know what you think!

I did like the feature overall and thank Patrick for sending it to me. I'd really like to catch more of his short films, and can't wait to see what SenoReality Pictures has in store next. Also, shame on me for not knowing that he directed Empty Acre, which has been sitting in my collection since 2007, still in the shrinkwrap. Seems like a good time to free it from it's factory binding and give it a watch.

Be on the lookout for Nailbiter playing at a festival or horror convention near you, and follow it's happenings on Patrick's Facebook Page!